Veteran Turns Passion For Wood Carving Into Business

Veteran Turns Passion For Wood Carving Into Business Al Weix of Eau Claire, Wis., turned to woodworking in a low moment. Now, he strives to bless others with his projects. Weix is a Vietnam War veteran. “I had mental health issues after back surgery in 1991,” he says. “I didn’t know what direction my life was going.” Having recently lost his job of 23 years, he wasn’t sure how to spend his time. “Woodworking just came to me; God inspired me to go in this direction.” Weix began by creating patterns for project ideas. “It’s cliché, but the first thing I ever made was a birdhouse. Then, I moved on to doll houses. I was so enthusiastic about this work that I had a neighbor come by the house once. She wanted to know what all the racket was about. She went home with a doll house.” Today, he specializes in making trains. Each includes interchangeable parts, so he’s always working on multiple trains. Each is Weix’s own creation. “I’ve made all kinds of train cars. Name trains with each letter on a different car, packer trains, tankers, barrel cars, flat beds, drums, cattle, cargo, coal, and lumber. I wanted to make a passenger train for a long time. It took lots of deliberation, but once I began, I got it right the first time.” Weix sells his custom woodwork, and those interested can reach out to him through email. He’ll provide pricing information based on the request, as the designs vary too much to give general numbers. As much as Weix enjoys the woodworking process, the greatest joy is seeing how people respond to his work. “I left one of my name trains on the desk of my chiropractor. She had tears in her eyes when she came back and saw it.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Al Weix, Eau Claire, Wis. (ph 715-577-4490; alweix88@gmail.com).

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